DFG/LFA (1e) – ENGLISH LANGUAGE: History and development

Complete the table using the information from the graph (see below) and video (see link below)! You may have to do more research to find all the info.

Look up the words marked in yellow.

ERA CENTURIES EVENTS / DEVELOPMENTS DETAILS re LANGUAGE(S)

“Pre-English” BC Celtic tribes live on British Isles many different Celtic languages all over the British Isles

1st century AD Roman conquest of Britain begins Latin becomes a significant influence; some Latin words enter the Celtic
Germanic tribes languages in use.
- Limited to England but leaving its mark : culturally, linguistically

Old English 5th century Original Celtic tribes are driven to the “edges” of the  Introduce Germanic vocab (Anglo-Saxon)
British Isles
 Celtic tribes continue original Celtic tribes are driven to the “edges”
of the British Isles

 Celtic culture and language alive until today in:

1. Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge):
Location: Ireland
 Status: It is one of the official languages of the Republic of Ireland
and recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland.
2. Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig):
Location: Scotland
 Status: It is spoken mainly in the Highlands and Western Isles.
While it has a smaller number of speakers compared to English,
efforts are made to promote and preserve the language.
3. Welsh (Cymraeg):
Location: Wales
 Status: Welsh is a living language spoken by a significant portion
of the population in Wales. It has official status in Wales, and
efforts are made to promote its use.
4. Breton (Brezhoneg):
Location: Brittany (Bretagne), France
 Status: Breton is spoken in Brittany, where it is recognized as a
regional language. However, its usage has declined over the years,
and there are efforts to revitalize it.
 5. Cornish (Kernowek):
Location: Cornwall, England
 Status: Cornish is spoken in Cornwall and has undergone a revival
in recent years. While not as widely spoken as some other Celtic
languages, there are efforts to promote its use.

6. Manx (Gaelg or Gailck):

Location: Isle of Man
 Status: Manx Gaelic experienced a decline in the 20th century but
has undergone a revival with language revitalization efforts. It is
spoken by a small community on the Isle of Man.
9th century Viking Invasions and Norse influence Norse words are incorporated into Old English; Old English begins to take
Old Norse on a more Germanic-Norse character
Middle 11th – 13th 1066: Norman Conquest French influences (mainly vocabulary) remain part of the English language
English century Guillaume le Conquerant Old French became official language (about 200 years)
14th century English regains importance The Hundred Years' War contributes to the resurgence of English as a
national language
Early Modern 16th – 17th William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Standardization and increased literacy contribute to the development of
English century Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Early Modern English.
William Shakespeare’s (and/or contemporaries) contribution to the
Elizabethan Era: English language :
discoveries  trade and colonization  British - Innovative word formation (suffixes => creating word classes)
Empire - Borrowing from other language

The expansion of trade and colonization introduces new words and

influences from various cultures into English.
Queen Elizabeth I : beginning of exploration, conquests, colonization
(grow of the British Empire) => spreading of the English language
Modern 19th century - Victorian Era Many different "Englishes": L1, L2, pidgin and creole languages, etc.
English today Industrial Revolution English becomes world language N°1. Lingua Franca versus Globish
Imperialism  linguistic imperialism
Industrian Revolution : immense amount of
many different “Englishes”: discoveries/inventions/innovations, developments => new expressions etc.
L1, L2, pidgin and creole languages, … were coined => via the British Empire taken into the world

English becomes world language N°1 Imperialism:

- English being imposed as official language allover the Empire
“Lingua Franca” versus “Globish” (linguistic imperialism)
- Words from the colonies enter the English language
 L1 and L2 relate to an individual's proficiency in their native language and
a second language, respectively.
Pidgin languages are simplified forms of communication that develop
between groups with no common language for basic interaction.
Creole languages arise from the mixing of different languages and develop
into fully-formed languages with their own grammar and vocabulary,
spoken natively by a community.

English = contact language : it came into contact with a lot of local

languages => development of pidgin languages (simplified) and creole
languages (complex mixed languages)

VIDEO: A History of the English language https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU9pshEkwVE

GRAPH: The History of the English language (source: English-culture.com) 